Day: April 3, 2012

ROCK FALLS, IL — Homecoming ceremonies are scheduled for April 5 for approximately 170 Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers with the 1644th Transportation Company in Rock Falls. Ceremonies will take place in Rock Falls and Springfield.

Mobilized in July 2011, the 1644th deployed to Kuwait in August in support of Operation New Dawn and Enduring Freedom.

The mission of the 1644th included hauling cargo throughout Iraq and Kuwait. The unit completed approximately 175 transportation missions in Kuwait and Iraq with no casualties. The Soldiers traveled 4.1 million miles, hauled more than 35,000 tons of cargo and transported more than 7,500 pieces of equipment to help the United States in its withdrawal from Iraq. The achievements of the 1644th resulted in 185 awards, including 28 Soldiers recommended for Bronze Stars. The 1644th also received a Unit Safety Streamer for its vigilance while deployed.

The 1644th was the last long-haul transportation convoy to leave Iraq Dec. 18, 2011 as the United States concluded operations in Iraq.

"This was a historic moment for the United States of America and the people of Iraq," said Capt. Michael Barton of Greenview, commander of the 1644th. "Just the fact that the Illinois National Guard and the 1644th played such a big part in the final convoy is very special."

The 1644th was previously mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from October 2004 to October 2005.

Former Marine decided his service wasn’t enough; he is virtual Chesty Puller

Okay, I have posted again and again about why you shouldn't fake being in the service. We have had a person here get convicted in federal court as part of the Stolen Valor Act. Others have had their repuations destroyed. And veterans really hate people who lie about their record or who completely fake being in the service.it diminishes what they did and the sacrfiice they went through. hey, I would love to have stories of me being a Navy SEAL and get the hero's attention. But I wasn't. I would love to, when I go to cover all the veterans' events, hang with the guys and said, "yeah, I get it. I was there. Or I did my part." But I didn't. People, I get why someone who has a low self image wants to lie. Right now, it's cool to be in the service. It wasn't when I was a lad but times have changed for the better.

But check out this case posted on three different Web sites and use it as a lesson as to why lying is bad. First off, you get slammed online and those posts never go away. Second, you get slammed online and that's there forever. Third, the people who were your friends suddenly hate you. And this guy was a Marine. He made Gunny. Just don't get it. Be proud of who you are. Don't lie. Please. If you really need to live out your fantasies, play Call of Duty.

I wrote about this last week, about the heroics of Sgt. Dennis Weichel Jr. who is a true hero in every sense of the word. Hero has been tossed around a lot in the past 10 years or so. It's fashionable to call police, firefighters and servicemembers heroes and maybe they are. Maybe just signing up for a job is a heroic act. And the case could be made. Let's face it. A police officer faces a lot more than a reporter.

But Sgt. Weichel's actions go well beyond that and while it will not merit praise that comes iwth medals of valor but it does demand our attention and praise. Because what this man did is show the rest of us what being a hero is — putting others first, you second. So what did he do?

The 29-year-old Providence resident was struck and killed by an armored vehicle on March 22 in Laghman Province after moving an Afghan boy to safety who was trying to retrieve something underneath the vehicle.

He was laid to rest Monday. His adjunct general said this… (and I agree)

"Dennis Weichel had the courage of a warrior, but that isn't what drove him to save Zaillah. What drove Dennis to save that child was the heart of a father," McBride said.

"The dictionary defines a hero as a person of remarkable bravery who is admired for noble deeds. Dennis was incredibly brave. He twice volunteered to serve his country in a war zone. And that is how you should remember him — as a hero, a brave solider who embodied the best of us all."

Good for the general to get that this brave young man went above and beyond the call. If I can find a Web site that was set up to honor him, I'll post it here.